Connecting a DJ booth up to a fire alarm.

[Leesparkykent]

Does anyone know of anything specific for this? If not I'll just install a relay to cut the sockets in the booth when the fire alarm sounds.

 

[trev]

A sudden loss of power can damage amplifiers beyond repair mate. Be very careful as they're not cheap. You need something that will kill the noise but leave the amps powered.

 

[Leesparkykent]

A sudden loss of power can damage amplifiers beyond repair mate. Be very careful as they're not cheap. You need something that will kill the noise but leave the amps powered.

Cheers Trev, that makes things a little more difficult than I first thought then.

 

[amlu]

have a look here, lengthy topic on a specialized forum...
fire alarm audio mute relay? - Speakerplans.com Forums - Page 1

amplifiers usually do not have a problem with being turned off.
just make sure your relay is up for the job, there may be plenty of current up there.
if in doubt consult the sound engineers in the venue or company that supplies the PA.

otherwise kill the feed to the socket powering the mixer leaving rest of the PA system alone.

 

[trev]

amplifiers usually do not have a problem with being turned off.

Maybe things have changed since my roadie days but a band who were on the verge of making it had a big showcase gig in Newcastle a few years back. A power cut killed 14 kilowatts worth of amp rack.
Like Amlu said, your best bet is to talk to the noisy boys.

 

[Leesparkykent]

have a look here, lengthy topic on a specialized forum...
fire alarm audio mute relay? - Speakerplans.com Forums - Page 1

amplifiers usually do not have a problem with being turned off.
just make sure your relay is up for the job, there may be plenty of current up there.
if in doubt consult the sound engineers in the venue or company that supplies the PA.

otherwise kill the feed to the socket powering the mixer leaving rest of the PA system alone.

Cheers amlu, good idea! As you maybe can tell I have no idea about dj equipment lol.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Never kill the mixer power leaving the amps on, it can create a horrendous speaker-damaging thump as the mixer power supply collapses. If there is active speaker management or audio DSP, an input can often be configured as a mute that can be driven from a volt-free relay contact. Failing that, arrange a relay to mute the line level signals from the master mix out. This is something I have to do all the time but I would never do it by killing power.

 

[tazz]

Most clubs and venues I`ve worked on, we have cut total power to the stage or DJ booth via contactor. Most risk assessments by local council will require all sound & lighting to be switch down, and cleaning or house lights to be switch on via fire alarm.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Cheers Trev, that makes things a little more difficult than I first thought then.

They don't like to be powered-up too quick either.

I used to use Hill Audio DX-3000's and they were a bit fussy how you treated them but they chucked some power out - 3,000 Watts bridged.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Maybe things have changed since my roadie days but a band who were on the verge of making it had a big showcase gig in Newcastle a few years back. A power cut killed 14 kilowatts worth of amp rack.
Like Amlu said, your best bet is to talk to the noisy boys.

Ouch!! ..... Now that is expensive!!!

 

[trev]

They don't like to be powered-up too quick either.

I used to use Hill Audio DX-3000's and they were a bit fussy how you treated them but they chucked some power out - 3,000 Watts bridged.

There was always a procedure to be followed when powering them up. Gain and output volume on 0, stand by power, power on, gain up, output volume up. Any deviation from that could result in (at best) blown fuses
Those Hill Audio jobs were great, not as good as Crowns though

 

[Paul.M]

Only done this once. Amazing how a 3 minuet phone call to the PA engineer could have saved £20k+ in damages!!! In theses cases, phone a friend is a good option.

 

[tazz]

I Can understand the concern about shutting amps down, and possibly dmx lighting....but we are always told the same. Shut the power down. Same in pubs with council Noise Limiters, as soon as the db level goes above a limit, power is cut...I know the bands don`t like the db cut offs.

 

[Geordie Spark]

I Can understand the concern about shutting amps down, and possibly dmx lighting....but we are always told the same. Shut the power down. Same in pubs with council Noise Limiters, as soon as the db level goes above a limit, power is cut...I know the bands don`t like the db cut offs.

Those "Noise Limiters" were installed in a good few Working Men Clubs in the early 70's.

They kept having "accidents" and didn't last long.

 

[tazz]

Surrey Council have updated most of them now, but only fitted where complaints have been issued....Quite a few pubs in Chertsey, Addlestone, Egham etc, basically some of the smaller pubs trying their best to make a living.